Cabinet approves procurement process for Rs. 15 b Ruwanpura Expressway Phase I contracts

Wednesday, 29 July 2026 00:23 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Cabinet of Ministers at its meeting on Monday approved the commencement of the procurement process to award contracts worth around Rs. 15 billion for the first phase of the Ruwanpura Expressway Project, with the contracts expected to be awarded during 2026 using approved local budgetary allocations.

Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa announced the decision at the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing yesterday, stating that the approval enables the Road Development Authority (RDA) to proceed with selecting a contractor for the project’s first section.

The initial phase covers the construction of the expressway from Kahathuduwa to Ingiriya, including a System Interchange at Kahathuduwa that will connect the new expressway to the existing Southern Expressway.

“The RDA has planned to complete the procurement process for the construction of the Phase I road section of the Ruwanpura Expressway Project from Kahathuduwa to Ingiriya, including the System Interchange to be constructed at Kahathuduwa, and award the relevant contracts within the year 2026,” he said.

He added that the Cabinet had approved the proposal to carry out the procurement process and select a suitable contractor at an estimated cost of about Rs. 15 billion from local funds already allocated under the approved 2026 Budget provisions.

The approval marks the start of the procurement stage for the long-planned expressway project, which is intended to strengthen transport connectivity between the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces.

Once completed, the Kahathuduwa System Interchange will provide direct connectivity between the Ruwanpura Expressway and the Southern Expressway, improving access to the national expressway network.

The proposal to this effect was submitted by Transport, Highways, and Urban Development Minister Bimal Rathnayake.